As the world continues to try to grasp and make sense of the incredibly shocking death of Michael Jackson, several people close to the family and investigation are hinting that prescription drugs may have played a role in the King of Pop's demise.
TMZ is reporting that a Jackson family members have confirmed that Michael received a shot of Demerol just before Noon on Thursday, and that the dosage was "too much." They say Jackson typically received a shot of Demerol daily.
Police on Friday were seeking Jackson's home physician, Dr. Conrad Robert Murray, who was believed to be with Jackson at the time his health took a turn for the worst. TMZ is now reporting that Murray will speak to police.
Police towed a BMW believed to be Murray's from Jackson's rented home "because it may contain medications or other evidence that may assist the coroner indetermining the cause of death," police spokeswoman Karen Raynersaid.
Britain's The Sun, citing sources at the UCLA hospital where Jackson was treated, is reporting that Jackson stopped breathing shortly after a shot of Demerol, a drug similar to morphine. "Shortly after taking the Demerol he started to experience slow shallow breathing. His breathing gradually got slower and slower until it stopped," the Sun source said.
"His staff started mouth-to-mouth and an ambulance was called which got there in eight minutes. But paramedics found he was in full respiratory arrest, no breathing and no pulse. They started full CPR and rushed him to hospital," the source continues.
Brian Oxman, the Jackson Family spokesman and former lawyer for Michael, told CNN in an interview on Thursday night that "I can only tell you that this is something that was not unexpected." Oxman went on to say that "the medications which Michael was under, this family has been trying for months and months and months to take care of Michael Jackson."
Oxman went on to compare the Jackson situation to that of the late Anna Nicole Smith. "The people who have surrounded him have been enabling him. If you think the case of Anna Nicole Smith was an abuse, it's nothing in comparison to what we have seen taking place in Michael Jackson's life," Oxman told CNN.
Jackson's friend Liza Minelli seemed to hint at the same during a Friday morning interview on CBS' 'The Early Show,' during which she said: "When the autopsy comes, all hell's going to break loose, so thank God we're celebrating him now."
Michael Jackson was rushed to the hospital suffering from cardiac arrest. According to reports, he has died at the age of 50. A Retrospective of His Life
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Known as the King of Pop, Michael Jackson began his life as a child sensation who blossomed into one of the greatest pop stars of all time.
Michael Ochs Archives / Getty Images
He was the lead singer for the very popular Jackson 5 that included the his brothers -- Jackie, Tito, Jermaine and Marlon. He then morphed into a highly successful recording artist, making his first solo album in 1972.
Ron Galella, WireImage
Jackson appears in the 1982 music video for 'Thriller,' one of the best-selling albums of all time with at least 27 million copies sold worldwide.
Everett Collection
Over the course of his storied career, Jackson won 13 Grammy awards -- eight of them for 'Thriller' alone.
Liason
His stage presence captured the hearts of millions -- including his signature "moonwalk" dance which he unveiled in 1983 while performing 'Billie Jean.' At 50 years old, he was attempting to make a comeback with several dates scheduled in London.
Dave Hogan, Getty Images
Jackson's successes were also marred by personal strife and controversy. In later years, the singer was twice accused of molesting children. In the first, he settled out of court with the accuser, and in the second he was found not guilty.
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Jackson is seen being escorted into court in January of 2004 -- the second time he was charged with child molestation. The first, in 1993, resulted in a settlement reported to be worth about $23 million.
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Jackson is shown here in his 2003 mug shot where he was booked on child molestation charges. The singer was later acquitted.
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The 'Dangerous' star caused a stir when he held his youngest child, Prince Michael II, over the balcony of his Berlin hotel in 2002. His son was later dubbed 'Blanket' due to this incident.
Olaf Selchow, Getty Images
Jackson's friend Uri Geller says he thinks it was the pressure of Michael's upcoming 50+ concert tour that put added weight on the King of Pop. "He was in good shape ... I'm not a doctor, but I can only assume he was under immense stresses and pressures, and you can ask any doctor, stress is a killer. The pressure of these concerts, putting under huge pressures, he was a perfectionist. That could have been what did it. But that's just my opinion," Geller told UsMagazine.com.
The official cause of Jackson's death won't be known until an autopsy has been completed. As of now, cardiac arrest is being blamed for his death.
